Method of and apparatus for



July 29, 1941. F. ATTERBERG l METHOD OF AND APPARATUS OR PACKAGING MATCHES Filed Feb. 2, 1939 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented July 29, 1941 ,UITED ASTATE METHOD oF AND APPAiwrUsr FOR PACKAGINGMATCHES f Fritz Atterberg, New York, N. Y.

Application February 2, 1939, Serial No. 254,152

Claims.

This invention relates to method of and apparatus for packaging matches.

In certain types of match packages individual and separate matches are removably held in position from which they are withdrawn in use. An object of this invention is an apparatus for and method of making such packages eiiciently, rapidly and inexpensively. I

According to this invention, the matches are laid on a straight paper strip transversely thereof in longitudinal spaced relation and between successive matches adhesive is applied to the paper strip. A second paper strip is laid over the matches and between successive matches is pressed into contact with and xed to the first strip. Next, matches are laid in the empty corrugations of the second strip, after which a third strip of paper is laid over the last mentioned matches and is xed to the second strip by adhesive, the rst and third strips being straight and parallel, while the second strip lies between them and is corrugated. Matches are held in the pockets between the second strip and each of the remaining strips. The assembly thus produced is cut in short lengths to form holders and two such holders `are attached to a back provided With a return bend portion between the holder to act as a hinge for arranging the match package thus produced in open or closed condition.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification `and accompanying drawing,

wherein: 1 Y Y Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a match package embodying the invention, the package being in open position;

Fig. 2 is a section through the match package of Fig. 1 in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a section through a machine for making the match package;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of one element of the machine;

Fig. 5 isa section onthe line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6--6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '1 is a section through the match holder in an early stage of its manufacture; and

Fig. 8 is a similar view at a later stage.

As illustrated in Fig. l, the match package produced by practice of the invention consists of a back I0 of thin cardboard or the like to which are attached two match holders II in which the matches are so arranged that the heads of the matches in one holder face the heads of the matches in the other holder. Between the holders, the back I0 is offset at I2 to form a stop for engagement by the.. match heads toprevent the matches sliding out of their holders, this oi-` set being of particular' importance when all the matches have been removed from one holder. Under such conditions, without the offset I2, the matches in the remaining holder would have a tendency to slide out. At either side of the offset I2 the back I0 is turned to form a return bend which acts asa hinge by which the package may be arranged either in the open position of Fig. 1 or the closedposition zof. Fig. 2. Each holder consists of two parallel straight strips of paper or the like I3 and .I-'ia between whichV a series of matches I5 is held-by -a corrugated strip Ill, such arrangement being.V shown in detail in Fig. 8. The corrugated .strip co-operates with one straight strip to hold half of the matches I5 and with the other-straight strip to hold the other half of'thematches.

Referring now to the machine, I6 is an endless belt or conveyor which is supported and driven by pulleys I1 and passes'over va table IEa. Along one edge ofthev conveyor are Varranged spaced projecting members I8 and along the other edge ofy the conveyor are arranged corresponding spaced projecting members I9, the two sets of projecting membersIS and I9 being separated to form an unobstructed channel longitudinally of the conveyor. Thepockets iormedbetween adjacent members IBJand-adjacent members I9 are of properrsize to receive a match. A strip of paper I3 passes from a-supply roll 2l under a guide roll 22 and enters one end of the conveyor channel. The conveyor carries the strip I3 under a match feeder 23 which arranges a match I5 in each pair of theconveyor pockets across the strip I3. The conveyor then carries the strip and matches beneath a cogwheel 24 which is aligned with the strip I3`and of proper width project intouthey conveyor channel. As each match passes beneath the cogwheel 24 lit is straddled by two teeth of the cogwheel so that the surfaces of the teeth engage the strip I3. Associated with the cogwheel is a pan 25 containing adhesive which is supplied to the teeth of the cogwheel 24 through the intermediary of the rollers 26. Thus, as the strip I3 and matches pass beneath the cogwheel, adhesive is supplied to the strip I3 at either side of each match I5. The conveyor then carries the strip I3 and matches I5 beneath a second cogwheel 21, but before the strip and matches reach the cogwheel 21, a second strip I4 of paper or the like from a supply 29 is passed around the guide roller 30 and laid over the matches I5. The cogwheel 21 corrugates the strip I4 laround the matches I5 to press successive portions of the strip between the matches and into contact with the adhesive applied by the gear wheel 24 so that the matches I are firmly secured to the strip I3 as illustrated in Fig. 7.

The two strips I3 and I4 with the associated matches I5 are fed beneath a second match feeder 3| and additional matches I5 are laid in the empty pockets of the corrugated strip I4, after which adhesive is applied to the strip I4 between the last-named matches I5 by means of the roller 32. A strip of paper I3a from the supply roller 2Ia is laid on the strip I4 by a roller a over the last-named matches I5 and fixed thereto by the adhesive applied by the roller 32.

The combined strips and matches next pass over the guide roll 33 and under the guide roll 34 where they meet the cardboard strip ID which is drawn from a roller 35. As the strip I0 leaves the roll 35 it passes between the rotating corrugating dies 36 and 3'I which produce the longitudinal oset I2. Next the strip I0 passes between rollers 38 and 39 by means of which a strip of adhesive is applied from the supply 40 thereof through the intermediary of the rolls 4I. Upon engagement of the combined strips and matches with the strip Ill, they are bound together by the adhesive so that a row of matches is arranged at one side of the offset II. By a duplicate mechanism (not shown) a second match holding strip is later applied to the strip I 0 along the other side of the offset I2. Subsequently by the use of cutting means (not shown) the strip I 0 is severed laterally to produce the package shown in Fig. l. In order to facilitate the severing operation a periodic omission of matches in the holders is provided for, preferably by omitting at the proper intervals one of the match pockets on the conveyor.

Means (not shown) of any suitable construction are provided for effecting step-by-step advancement of the conveyor I6 and for actuating the feeder 23 to supply matches to it during its periods of rest. Also, suitable mechanism (not shown) is provided for feeding the strips IIJ, I3, I4 and I3a in timed relation with the conveyor and actuating the feeder 23a to deposit matches during periods of rest of the strip feed mechanism. The cog wheels 24 and 21, together with the adhesive applying rollers 32 and 39 likewis are similarly rotated.

I claim:

1. The method of forming match packages which comprises arranging matches in spaced relation on a strip of paper or the like, placing a second strip of paper or the like over said matches, corrugating and joining said second strip to said first strip between successive,

matches, arranging additional matches on said corrugated strip in the empty pockets thereof, placing a third strip over said corrugated strip and connecting it to said second strip between the matches lying thereon.

2. An apparatus for making match packages which comprises an endless conveyor, two series of projections from said conveyor defining pockets, each series being laterally separated from the other to form a central channel, means for supplying a strip of paper or the like to said central channel, means for supplying matches to said pockets, means for applying adhesive to said strip between matches, means for feeding a second strip of paper or the like onto said matches,

` and means for pressing portions of said second strip between matches into engagement with the adhesive.

3. A machine for forming match packages comprising means for advancing a strip of paper or the like, means for laying matches thereon transversely and in spaced relation, means for laying a second strip of paper or the like on said matches, means for joining said second strip to said first strip between successive matches, means for laying matches on said second strip between the first mentioned matches, means for laying a third strip over said second strip and said last-named matches, and means for fixing said third strip to said second strip between said last-mentioned matches.

4. An apparatus for forming match packages comprising means for advancing a strip of paper or the like, means for laying matches thereon transversely and in spaced relation, means for applying adhesive to said strip between successive matches, means for laying a strip of paper or the like .on said matches, means for pressing portions of said second strip between matches into engagement with the adhesive on said first strip, means for laying matches on said second strip between the first-mentioned matches, means for laying a third strip over said second strip and said last-mentioned matches, and means for fixing said third strip to said second strip between said last-mentioned matches,

5. An apparatus for making match packages which comprises an endless conveyor, two series of projections from said conveyor defining pockets, each series being laterally separated from the other to form a central channel, means for supplying a strip of paper or the like to said central channel, means for supplying matches to said pockets, means for applying adhesive to said strip between matches, means for feeding a second strip of paper or the like onto said matches, means for pressing portions of said second strip between matches into engagement with the adhesive, means for laying matches on said second strip between the first-mentioned matches, means for laying a third strip over said second strip and said last-mentioned matches, and means for fixing saidV third strip to said second strip between said last-mentioned matches.

FRITZ ATTERBERG. 

